TRAVEL BY FOOT: 3 OF LONDON’S BEST WALKING TOUR IDEAS

With this in mind, london.com has planned 3 walking tours, just for your enjoyment.  At just about one hour in length, they perfect for both the seasoned slow holiday vacationer and those new to the walking tour scene!

 


 

From Little Venice to Camden

One of the most iconic routes in London runs along the Regent’s Canal from Little Venice to Camden. Best on sunny days when the long and slim canal barges and boats populate the water, you will follow the canal through the city for about two miles.

You can start at Little Venice or Camden, but we recommend you to end in Camden, so you can reward yourself with a good bite at Camden Market or one of the many other foodie options.

To start, take the Bakerloo line to Warwick Avenue Station, plan about 1 hour for the walking portions of this trip.

If you are not tired yet, simply double back a bit after your bite and visit Regent’s Park that houses the London Zoo. Explore at your leisure!

 


 

Hyde Park/Kensington Park

Take a stroll past the Serpentine and the long water lakes that separate Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park.

You can start anywhere around the lake but if you want a mouthful to strengthen yourself for the (leisurely) walk, drop off the Piccadilly line at Knightsbridge Station and head north to the east end of the lake. There, you will find the Serpentine Bar & Kitchen, a great place to start the day!

Keep walking around the serpentine lake (counterclockwise around the lake or direction north-west from the kitchen) and decide whether you want to take a shortcut over the bridge between the two bodies of water. We recommend that you continue, however, with a stroll through the Italian Water Gardens at the north end of The Long Water. On your way back on the west side of the lake, you will encounter the famous Peter Pan statue. Then, it is up to you whether you want to veer west through the Kensington Gardens towards Kensington Palace or finish the full circle with a visit to the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain.

The walk will take you 1 – 1.5 hours, not counting any coffee/beer/rolling-around-in-the-meadows breaks!

 


 

Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge

This walk through the heart of London will bring you close to many attractions, pick any of them out and drop in at your leisure.

To get to the Westminster Bridge, head to Westminster Station via the Circle, District or Jubilee lines; or, you can approach from the other side, through Lambeth North Station via Bakerloo. The walk is just over an hour long, not counting you popping in and out of any attractions along the way, of course.

Start the walk at the Westminster Bridge, close to the Imperial War Museum, the Churchill War Rooms, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and the Palace of Westminster. Head over to the South Bank (the side the London Eye is on) and head north, along the Thames. Most days you will find food trucks and small stalls along your way if you are in the mood for a bite. You will eventually get glimpses at St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tate Modern as you pass Shakespeare’s Globe and the London Bridge. Finally, you will arrive at the Tower Bridge, opposite the Tower of London.

Famished from the tour? Another 10 minutes south, and you can reward yourself with a bite in the Maltby Street Market!